Dennis Brain (horn)
Homage - Centenary Edition
rec. 1938-57
No sung texts provided
WARNER CLASSICS 9029501992 [11 CDs: 817:48]
Dennis Brain (17th May 1921 – 1st September 1957)
‘In his warm and serene person all the essential qualities of the great interpretative artist were blended in perfect harmony.’ Walter Legge (November 1957)
To commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of Dennis Brain’s birth, Warner Classics has issued this Centenary Edition, an eleven CD collection entitled Dennis Brain – Homage.
Coming to recorded classical music quite late, in the mid-to-late nineteen-eighties, my focus was almost entirely on collecting new digital recordings on vinyl, favouring labels such as Chandos for British music, and Deutsche Grammophon for Austro/German
classics. Consequently, renowned horn player Dennis Brain who had died so tragically prior to the digital era in 1957, did not feature in my collection. Of course, Brain was discussed widely and with veneration as a great horn player, but Brain’s younger contemporary the talented Barry Tuckwell was the horn player I encountered most often, as he was still performing and recording.
Brain had been driving through the night, returning home from a Philharmonia concert at the Edinburgh Festival, when his car crashed into a tree in Hampstead. He was only thirty-six and left behind a wife and three young children. Furthermore, his death robbed the music world of a musician who, although, had already achieved legendary status. He was acclaimed in the Warner promotional material as ‘the greatest horn-player of the twentieth century’; on hearing this Centenary Edition, it seems impossible to disagree with that statement.
One might say that Dennis Brain was predestined to become a horn player as he was part of a renowned horn playing dynasty. Father Aubrey, grandfather Alfred Edwin and uncle Alfred were all horn players. In addition, Dennis’ mother, Marion, was a singer who composed, and his older brother, Leonard, played oboe and cor anglais. Continuing the family tradition, Leonard’s daughter Tina Brain is a professional horn player.
A highly influential producer for EMI (HMV) in the rapidly growing recording industry, Walter Legge (1906-1979) first recognised the talents of Brain, then a sixteen-year-old student at the Royal Academy of Music. During World War Two having been conscripted into the armed forces, Brain joined the Central Band of the RAF and then the newly formed RAF Symphony Orchestra. While on a goodwill tour to the USA with the RAF Symphony, Leopold Stokowski, a fellow Londoner by birth and renowned conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra, encouraged Brain to become his principal horn after the war. When founding The Philharmonia Orchestra in 1945, Legge directly appointed Brain as principal horn; he concurrently served as principal horn with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, formed in 1946 under Sir Thomas Beecham, until 1954. He also played with several other chamber orchestras, notably the London Baroque Ensemble and Dennis Brain Ensemble which are represented on this collection by a number of recordings.
It is hard to find a superlative which has not already been expressed about Brain’s consummate playing. Legge was a great champion of Brain’s mastery and stated ‘technical problems did not exist for him’… ‘Over his instrument’s whole range, he had a mastery of intonation, of legato, of staccato, of dynamic range and, above all, of expressiveness.’ Brain soon gained an unparalleled pre-eminence as a horn player, and I have not come across any examples of his work which did not shine.
The majority of Brain’s studio recordings are held by EMI (HMV)/Warner; the remaining ones are on Decca and radio broadcast recordings on BBC labels. This Centenary Edition provides all of Brain’s recordings which are now part of the Warner Classics catalogue, including EMI’s Columbia label, Parlophone, HMV, Pye and Angel. This spans a nineteen-year recording period of Brain’s roles as a concerto soloist and a member of chamber groups, ensembles and orchestras. Many of these recordings have been released more than once over the years on sets such as ‘The Art of Dennis Brain’, (13 CDs) a Japanese issue on EMI (including recordings of Aubrey Brain) and other albums with the same title ‘The Art of Dennis Brain’ including three LPs on EMI and a single LP on Seraphim. There is also the ‘Icon’ collection on EMI, a four CD set, reissued in 2008 on Warner. Several recordings have been reissued on budget labels such as ‘Dennis Brain - Columbia & Decca Recordings’ a single CD on Pearl, ‘Dennis Brain - The Artistry’ a single CD on Regis, ‘A Tribute to Dennis Brain’ a single CD on Palladio, ‘The World of Dennis Brain’ a single CD on Beulah, ‘Dennis Brain - A tribute’ two CDs on Andromeda and ‘Dennis Brain - The Essential Collection (Horn Concertos)’ a five CD set on Documents.
Predictably, the lion’s share of the Brain recordings in the Centenary Edition are key works in the standard horn repertoire. There is also a pleasing number of rarer works with prominent horn parts. Late Baroque works include the Handel Trio Overture for two clarinets and horn, and from the early classical period the C.P.E. Bach Six Sonatas for winds. From the classical era there is the von Dittersdorf Partita in D major, Haydn’s Symphony No 31 ‘Horn Signal’, the Divertimento in C and Notturno in C, and Mozart’s four Horn Concertos, the Sinfonia Concertante for four winds, K297b, and Quintet for piano and winds, K452 (two recordings) and several Serenades and Divertimenti. Romantic period works include Beethoven’s Quintet (piano and winds), Op 16 and Horn
Sonata, Op 17, and Schumann’s Adagio and Allegro for horn and piano, Op 70. From the mid to late Romantic era there is Dvořák’s Wind Serenade, Op 44. Richard Strauss represents the post-Romantics with his two Horn
Concertos (two recordings of No 1), the Suite for thirteen winds, Op 4 also the Sonatina No 2
‘Fröhliche Werkstatt’ (‘Happy workshop’). From Abbey Road, London in 1956, the two Brain recordings of Strauss’ two Horn
Concertos with the Philharmonia Orchestra under Wolfgang Sawallisch are much admired and were chosen by EMI for its Great Recordings of the Century series. Also on the set are recordings of a small group of highly attractive works by French composers namely the Gounod Petite Symphonie for winds and three shorter works: d’Indy’s Chansons et
Danses for wind sextet (1898), the Dukas Villanelle for horn and piano, and Ibert’s Trois Pičces Brčves for wind quintet.
A number of composers wrote new works especially for Brain, some of which are included here, such as the Hindemith Horn Concerto which is presented in an impressive 1956 recording with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by the composer. Other works written for Brain and contained here include Lennox Berkeley’s beautiful Trio for horn, violin and piano recorded in 1954 and Gordon Jacob’s Sextet for piano and winds written in memory of Aubrey Brain and recorded in 1957. Among the works written for Brain missing from this collection is Britten’s masterpiece the Serenade for tenor, horn and strings. Brain is captured on a now legendary 1944 recording of the Serenade with composer conducting for the Decca label, so unfortunately it cannot be included here. In 1953 Brain recorded the Serenade a second time, on this occasion under Eugene Goossens also for Decca and it has been remastered and reissued on Alto.
There are here a couple of works recorded by Brain that I have not encountered previously. Completed in 1949, is London-born Richard Arnell’s Serenade scored for pairs of bassoons, clarinets, flutes, horns, oboes and a double bass, Op 57, a compelling work and well worth hearing. In addition, there is Bolton born Norman Kay with his Miniature quartet for flute, clarinet, horn and bassoon written in 1950. It is confirmed in the notes that both these Arnell and Kay recordings are being released on CD for the first time. Other CD premieres are headed by the three Handel’s works the Trio Overture for two clarinets and horn, HWV424; the two Arias for wind instruments, HWV410-411 and a work I find particularly appealing the Richard Strauss Suite for thirteen winds, Op 4. Another CD premiere, in fact a world premiere, being the only work on the set never previously released is the 1953 recording of d'Indy’s Chanson et Danses a highly attractive wind septet, for flute, oboe, two clarinets, horn and two bassoons, Op 50.
It is particularly unfortunate that Brain did not live to record for Legge another favourite work of mine the Brahms Trio for horn, violin and piano, Op 40, although Legge has explained he was planning to record the work. There is however a CD of Brain’s recording of the Brahms Horn Trio from a BBC radio broadcast from 1957 at London on BBC Music Legends/IMG Artists. Sometimes there is confusion as Aubrey Brain also record the work.
Brain’s playing throughout this collection is as near to flawless as one could imagine. However, there are a couple of performances that I find disappointing overall and both feature the soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, who incidentally married Legge in 1953. From 1956 there is the live Schwarzkopf performance of the Vier letzte Lieder (Four Last Songs) with the Philharmonia Orchestra under Herbert Von Karajan recorded at the Royal Festival Hall, London and remastered in 2014. Here, I cannot take to Schwarzkopf’s unevenness, near shrillness and slightly cloudy sound. This live recording comes nowhere close to her 1965 Berlin recording under George Szell that rightly deserves its classic status. Enjoyably sung, however, is Schwarzkopf’s 1954 performance of Fiordiligi’s Act Two aria ‘Per pieta, ben mio’ from Karajan’s Cosě fan tutte recording sessions with the Philharmonia at Abbey Road Studios, London. Soprano Joan Cross provides a further recording of Fiordiligi’s aria ‘Per pieta, ben mio’ (‘Ah! my love, forgive my madness’) with the Philharmonia Orchestra under Lawrance Collingwood. From 1947 at Abbey Road studios and now newly remastered, Cross’ performance is admirable although she sings the aria in English not the original Italian. There is also a third recording of Fiordiligi’s aria beautifully sung by Bosnia born soprano Sena Jurinac in 1951 at Glyndebourne, although Brain’s horn seems not to have been caught too well by the microphones. A real novelty is a live recording of Brain playing a very short movement from what is, I believe, Leopold Mozart’s Alphorn Concerto using a hose pipe in 1956 at a Hoffnung Festival Concert at RFH, London. Described as ‘An Extravagant Evening of Symphonic Caricature devised by Gerald Hoffnung’ the entire concert was recorded by EMI.
This Centenary Edition would be ideal for anyone new to Brain. Recorded during the period 1938-57 seven of the CDs are mono and the remaining four CDs contain both mono and stereo recordings. All of these recordings have been remastered at one time or another with seven CD premieres newly remastered (we are not informed by whom) for this set, including the single previously unreleased recording of the d’Indy Chanson et
Danses. Many Dennis Brain admirers who already have a number of these recordings on CD face a difficult choice with this Centenary Edition, especially those having the set ‘The Art of Dennis Brain’ on EMI.
These recordings, some of which are over eighty years old now, serve as historical documents of a great artist. Owing to the age and quality of the original master recordings there are of course some sound issues which listeners used to modern digital recordings might consider prohibitive. Most of the recordings sound impressive for their years and none of them is more recent than sixty-four years old. When there is a slight deficiency, it tends not to be with surface noise, as I expected, but with thin string sound. Nevertheless, I am still enjoying these recordings without any sound deficiencies intruding too much.
The eleven individual card CD sleeves in the box have on the front reproductions of the original cover artwork, and on the rear is detailed recording and production details together with original release information. The accompanying booklet lists basic details of each work, performers and timings. There is no essay but there is an obituary of Dennis Brain written by Walter Legge which was published in ‘The Gramophone’ magazine in November 1957. In addition, there is a brief tribute by horn player Sarah Willis whose teacher performed with Brain. Texts are not provided for the several sung performances contained on the set.
This ‘Homage’ to Denis Brain celebrates the centenary of the birth of this remarkable horn player. He was fully deserving of his legendary status and it is a delight to experience such innate artistry and a technique honed to perfection.
Michael Cookson
Contents
CD 1 [79:31]
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Divertimento No 17 in D major, K334
1. I. Allegro [7:21]
2. II. Tema Con Variazioni (Andante) [7:31]
3. III. Menuetto I [4:26]
4. IV. Adagio [6:41]
5. V. Menuetto II [6:44]
6. VI. Rondo (Allegro) [9:37]
Horn Concerto No 2 in E-flat major, K417
7. I. Allegro Maestoso [6:27]
8. II. Andante [3:22]
9. III. Rondo [3:24]
Horn Concerto No 4 in E-flat major, K495
10. I. Allegro Moderato [8:40]
11. II. Romanza (Adagio) [4:40]
12. III. Rondo (Allegro Vivace [3:35]
Cosě fan tutte, K588
13. Fiordiligi's aria – “Per Pieta, Ben Mio” (sung in English: ‘Ah! my love, forgive my madness’)
[6:57]
Dennis Brain (horn)
Aubrey Brain (horn) (1-6)
Joan Cross (soprano) (13)
Léner Quartet (1-6)
(Jeno Léner, violin I; Joseph Smilovits, violin II; Sándor Roth, viola; Imre Hartman, cello)
Philharmonia Orchestra / Walter Susskind (7-9) / Lawrance Collingwood (13)
Hallé Orchestra / Malcolm Sargent (10-11) / Laurance Turner (12)
Recorded: 16.II.1938, No 3 Studio, Abbey Road, London (1-6); 21.VI.1943, Houldsworth Hall, Manchester (10-12); 27.III.1946 (7-9), 2.I.1947 (13) EMI Studio No. 1, Abbey Road, London · MONO
Producers: Walter Legge (7-12), Leonard Smith (13), Unknown (1-6) · Sound Engineers: Edward Fowler (1-6), Robert Beckett (7-9), Arthur Clarke (10-13)
First Release On: Columbia LX 841/845 (1-6), Columbia DX 1365/1366 (7-9), Columbia DX 1123/1124 (10-12), Columbia DX 1353 (13)
Matrix: CAX 8451/8460 (1-6), CAX 9499/9502 (7-9), CAX 9104/9107 (10-12), CAX 9791/9792 (13)
0190295019921 · A Warner Classics Release ℗ 1939/Remastered ℗ 1992 (1-6), P 1943/Remastered ℗ 2008 (10-12), ℗ 1946/Remastered P 2008 (7-9), ℗ 1947/Remastered P 2021 (13) Parlophone Records Limited.
CD 2 [73:04]
Ludwig Van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Horn Sonata in F major, Op 17
1. I. Allegro Moderato [8:35]
2. II. Poco Adagio Quasi Lento [1:15]
3. III. Allegro Moderato [4:45]
Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Horn Concerto No 1 in E-flat major, Op 11
4. I. Allegro [5:03]
5. II. Andante [4:56]
6. III. Allegro – Rondo (Allegro) [5:02]
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Divertimento No 16 in E-flat major, K289
7. II. Minuet [2:52]
8. III. Adagio [3:03]
Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Adagio and Allegro in A-flat major, Op 70
9. I. Adagio [3:47]
10. II. Allegro [4:33]
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Cosě Fan Tutte, K588
11. Per Pieta, Ben Mio [7:14]
Josef HAYDN (1732-1809)
Symphony No 31 in D major ‘Horn Signal’, Hob.I:31
12. I. Allegro [3:43]
Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op 61
13. VII. Nocturne [5:51]
Frederick DELIUS (1862-1934)
14. A Mass of Life, Part II: Prelude [4:38]
Richard WAGNER (1813-1886)
15. Siegfried's Horn Call [1:30]
Paul DUKAS (1865-1935)
16. Villanelle [6:11]
Dennis Brain (horn)
Sena Jurinac, soprano (11), Denis Matthews (1-3), Gerald Moore (9-10)
(pianos);
Neils Sanders (12), Edmund Chapman (12), Alfred Cursue (12), Ian Beers (14), Ray White (14)
(horns); Gareth Morris (12) (flute)
Dennis Brain Wind Ensemble (7-8)
Philharmonia Orchestra / Alceo Galliera (4-6) / Rafael Kubelík (13)
Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra / Fritz Busch (11)
Philharmonia Orchestra / Sir Jack Westrup (12)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Thomas Beecham (14)
Recorded: 03.IV.1944 (1-3), 14.V.1947 (15), 22.IV.1952 (9-10), No. 3 Studio, Abbey Road, London; 21.V.1947, Kingsway Hall, London (4-6); 19.IV.1952, No. 1a Studio, Abbey Road, London (16); 8.V.1948 (14), 16.II.1952 (13), 17.IX.1952 (12), 5.XII.1952 (7-8), No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London;12.VII.1951 Opera House, Glyndebourne (11) · MONO
Producers: Walter Legge (1-6, 9, 10, 13, 16), Basil Lam (7-8, 12), Lawrance Collingwood (11, 14), Unknown (16) · Balance Engineers: Arthur Clarke (1-6, 14), Charles Anderson (7-8), Francis Dillnutt (9-10), Douglas Larter (11, 16), Laurie Bamber (12), Unknown (13)
First Release On: Columbia DX 1152/1153 (1-3), HMV HMS 80 (7-8), Columbia DX 1867 (9-10), Columbia DB 3300 (16), HMV C 3622 (15), Columbia DX 1397/1398 (4-6), HMV DB 21120 (11), HMV HMS 78 (12), HMV ALP 1049 (13), World Record Club SHB 32 (14)
Matrix: CAX 9154/9157 (1-3), CAX 11663/11664 (9-10), CA 22553/22555 (16), 2EA 11986 (15), CAX 1397/1398 (4-6), 2EA 16878 (7-8), 2EA 14967/14968 (11), 2EA 16878 (12), 2XEA252 (13), 2XEA 5732 (14)
0190295019921 · A Warner Classics Release ℗ 1944/Remastered ℗ 2008 (1-3), 1947/Remastered ℗ 2008 (4-6, 15), 1951/Remastered ℗ 2017 (11), 1952/Remastered ℗ 2008 (9-10, 16), ℗ 1953/Remastered ℗ 2008 (7-8,12), ℗ 1953/Remastered ℗ 2014 (13), ℗ 1976/Remastered ℗ 2017 (14) Parlophone Records Limited
CD 3 [72:47]
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Quintet for Piano and Winds in E-flat major, K452
1. I. Largo – Allegro Moderato [10:05]
2. II. Larghetto [7:06]
3. III. Rondo (Allegro) [5:50]
Ein musikalischer Spaß, K. 522,
(Divertimento for two horns and string quartet)
4. I. Allegro [2:49]
5. II. Menuetto [6:06]
6. III. Adagio Cantabile [6:13]
7. IV. Presto [4:13]
Quintet for Piano and Winds in E-flat major, K452
8. I. Largo – Allegro Moderato [8:24]
9. II. Larghetto [7:09]
10. III. Rondo (Allegro) [5:54]
Divertimento in B-flat major, K270 (arr. Anthony Baines)
11. I. Allegro Molto [2:46]
12. II. Andantino [2:07]
13. III. Menuetto (Moderato) [2:23]
14. IV. Presto [1:35]
Dennis Brain (horn)
Colin Horsley (1-3), Walter Gieseking (8-10), George Malcolm (11-14)
(pianos);
Leonard Brain (1-3), Sidney Sutcliffe (8-10)
(oboes); Stephen Waters (1-3), Bernard Walton (8-10) (clarinets); Cecil James (1-3, 8-10)
(bassoon); Neil Sanders (horn) (4-7)
Dennis Brain Ensemble (11-14)
(Gareth Morris, flute; Leonard Brain, oboe; Stephen Waters, clarinet; Cecil James, bassoon; Dennis Brain, horn)
Philharmonia Orchestra / Guido Cantelli (4-7)
Recorded: 15 & 23.V.1954 (1-3), 15-16.IV.1955 (8-10) No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London; 18.VIII.1955 (4-7), Kingsway Hall, London; VII.1957, Memorial Hall, Farringdon Street, London (11-14) · MONO (1-3, 8-14), STEREO (4-7)
Producers: Alan G. Melville & David Bicknell (1-3), Lawrance Collingwood (4-7), Walter Legge (8-10), Unknown (11-14) · Balance Engineers: Christopher Parker (1-7), Neville Boyling (8-10), BBC Engineers (11-14)
First Release In: HMV CLP 1029 (1-3), World Record Club SH XXX (4-7), Columbia 33CX 1322(8-10), Columbia 33CX 1687 (11-14)
Matrix: 2XEA571 (1-3), 2XYE 7505 (4-7), XAX 822/823 (8-10), XAX 1561 (11-14)
0190295019921 · A Warner Classics Release ℗ 1955/Remastered ℗ 1997 (1-3), ℗ 1956/Remastered ℗ 1990 (8-10), ℗ 1957/Remastered ℗ 2020 (4-7), ℗ 1960/Remastered ℗ 2008 (11-14) Parlophone Records Limited
CD 4 [67:14]
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Quintet for Piano and Winds in E-flat major, Op 16
1. I. Grave – Allegro Ma Non Tanto [11:13]
2. II. Larghetto [7:51]
3. III. Rondo (Allegretto) [5:37]
Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Horn Concerto No 1 In E-flat major, Op 11
4. I. Allegro [5:18]
5. II. Andante [5:01]
6. III. Allegro – Rondo (Allegro) [5:05]
Horn Concerto No 2 in E-flat major, AV132
7. I. Allegro [7:50]
8. II. Andante Con Moto [5:19]
9. III. Rondo [5:15]
Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op 61
10. VII. Nocturne [7:00]
Leopold MOZART (1719-1787)
11. III. Allegro [1:42]
Dennis Brain (horn) (1-10) & (hose-pipe) (11)
Walter Gieseking
(piano) (1-3); Sidney Sutcliffe (oboe) (1-3); Bernard Walton (clarinet) (1-3); Cecil James
(bassoon) (1-3)
Philharmonia Orchestra / Wolfgang Sawallisch (4-9) / Paul Kletzki (10)
Morley College Symphony Orchestra / Norman Del Mar (11)
Recorded: 15-16.IV.1955 (1-3), 23.IX.1956 (4-9), No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London; 5.II.1954 Kingsway Hall, London (10), 13.XI.1956 Royal Festival Hall, London (11) · MONO
Producers: Walter Legge (1-3), Walter Jellinek (4-9), Victor Olof & Peter Andry (11) · Balance Engineers: Neville Boyling (1-3, 11), Harold Davidson (4-9)
First Release As: Columbia 33CX 1322 (1-3), Columbia 33CX 1491 (4-9), Columbia 33CX 1174 (10), Columbia 33CX 1406 (11)
Matrix: XAX 822/823 (1-3), XAX 1159/60 (4-9), XAX 534/535 (10), XAX 1058, 4 (11)
0190295019921 · A Warner Classics Release ℗ 1954/Remastered ℗ 2008 (10), ℗ 1956/Remastered ℗ 1996 (1-3), ℗ 1957/Remastered ℗ 2002 (4-9), ℗ 1957/Remastered ℗ 2008 (11) Parlophone Records Limited
CD 5 [69:37]
Sir Lennox BERKELEY (1903-1989)
Horn Trio, Op 44
1. I. Allegro [5:26]
2. II. Lento [6:49]
3. III. Theme And Variations – Tema (Moderato)
[0:59]
4. Variation I (Allegro Vivace) [1:06]
5. Variation II (Allegretto) [0:57]
6. Variation III (Lento) [2:29]
7. Variation IV (Vivace) [0:46]
8. Variation V (Andante) [1:44]
9. Variation VI (Moderato) [0:55]
10. Variation VII (Adagio) [2:17]
11. Variation VIII (Moderato) [0:56]
12. Variation IX (Allegro Vivo) [1:08]
13. Variation X (Moderato) [0:55]
Paul HINDEMITH (1895-1963)
Horn Concerto
14. I. Moderately Fast [3:23]
15. II. Very Fast [1:56]
16. III. Very Slow – Moderately Fast – Fast – Lively – Very Slow
[9:42]
Gordon JACOB (1895-1984)
Sextet for Piano and Winds
17. I. Elegiac Prelude [4:01]
18. II. Scherzo [2:36]
19. III. Cortege [5:18]
20. IV. Minuet & Trio [4:00]
21. V. Rondo with Epilogue [4:58]
Jacques IBERT (1890-1962)
Trois Pičces Brčves
22. I. Allegro [2:40]
23. II. Andante [1:45]
24. III. Assez Lent – Allegro Scherzando [2:41]
Dennis Brain (horn)
Manoug Parikian (1-13)
(violin); Colin Horsley (piano) (1-13); George Malcolm (piano) (17-21).
Dennis Brain Ensemble (17-24)
(Gareth Morris
(flute); Leonard Brain (oboe); Stephen Waters (clarinet); Cecil James (bassoon); Dennis Brain
(horn))
Philharmonia Orchestra / Paul Hindemith (14-16)
Recorded: 15-16.VI.1954 (1-13), No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London; 19.XI.1956 (14-16), Kingsway Hall, London; VII.1957, Memorial Hall, Farringdon Street, London (17-24) · MONO (1-13, 17-24), STEREO (14-16)
Producers: Geraint Jones & Alan G. Melville (1-13), Walter Legge (14-16), Unknown (17-24) · Balance Engineers: Christopher Parker (1-13), Robert Gooch (14-16), BBC Engineers (17-24)
First Release In: HMV CLP 1029 (1-13), HMV HLS 7001 (14-16), Columbia 33CX 1687 (17-24)
Matrix: 2XEA 570 (1-13), YAX 299 (14-16), XAX 1561/1562 (17-24)
0190295019921 · A Warner Classics Release, ℗ 1955/Remastered ℗ 2003 (1-13), ℗ 1959/Remastered ℗ 2002 (14-16), 1960/Remastered ℗ 2008 (17-24) Parlophone Records Limited
CD 6 [67.11]
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Horn Concerto No 1 in D major, K412
1. I. Allegro [4:41]
2. II. Rondo (Allegro), K514 (arr. Sussmayr) [3:42]
Horn Concerto No 2 in E-flat major, K417
3. I. Allegro maestoso [6:35]
4. II. Andante [3:32]
5. III. Rondo [3:38]
Horn Concerto No 3 in E-flat major, K447
6. I. Allegro [6:58]
7. II. Romanza (Larghetto) [4:54]
8. III. Allegro [3:50]
Horn Concerto No 4 in E-flat major, K495
9. I. Allegro Moderato [7:58]
10. II. Romanza (Adagio) [4:27]
11. III. Rondo (Allegro Vivace) [3:41]
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
12. Mass in B minor, BWV232: XI. Quoniam [5:33]
Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Vier letzte Lieder (Four Last Songs), Op. posth, for soprano and orchestra:
13. No 1 Frühling [3:22]
14. No 3 Beim Schlafengehen [5:09]
15. No 4 Im Abendrot [6:51]
16. No 2 September [3:57]
Dennis Brain (horn)
Heinz Rehfuss (baritone) (12)
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano) (13-16)
Philharmonia Orchestra / Herbert Von Karajan
Recorded: 16.VII.1953, London (12), 12 (1-5), 13 (6-8), 23 (9-11) XI.1953, Kingsway Hall, London;
20.VI.1956 Royal Festival Hall, London (live 13-16) MONO
Producers: Walter Jellinek (1-11); Walter Legge (3-8, 12-16); Balance Engineer: Douglas Larter.
First Release as: Columbia 33CX 1140 (1-11), Columbia 33CX 1121/1123 (12), CDM 7636552 (12-16); Matrix: XAX 464/465 (1-11)
0190295019921 · A Warner Classics Release ℗1954/Remastered ℗ 1999 (12), ℗ 1954/Remastered ℗ 2011 (1-11), Parlophone Records Limited; ℗ 1990 Parlophone Records/Remastered ℗ 2014 (13-16) Parlophone Records Limited
CD 7 [68.33]
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat major, K297
1. I. Allegro [13:42]
2. II. Adagio [10:18]
3. III. Andantino Con Variazioni [9:33]
Divertimento No 15 in B-flat major, K287
4. I. Allegro [6:11]
5. II. Thema mit Variationen (Andante Grazioso) – Variations 1-6
[6:02]
6. III. Minuet & Trio [4:19]
7. IV. Adagio [6:53]
8. V. Minuet & Trio [4:29]
9. VI. Andante – Allegro Molto [7:02]
Cosě Fan Tutte, K588
10. Fiordiligi's aria – “Per pieta, ben mio, perdona”
[6:57]
Dennis Brain (horn)
Bernard Walton (clarinet); Sidney Sutcliffe
(oboe); Cecil James (bassoon) (1-3)
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano) (Fiordiligi) (10)
Philharmonia Orchestra / Herbert Von Karajan
Recorded: 17-18.XII.1953 (1-3), Kingsway Hall, London; 13-21.VII.1954 (10); 28.IV, 2.V.1952, 28-29.V.1955, No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London (4-9) · MONO
Producers: Walter Legge (1-9, 10); Balance Engineers: Douglas Larter (1-3), Harold Davidson (4-9).
First release on: Columbia 33CX 1178 (1-3), Columbia 33CX 1511 (4-9), Columbia 33CX 1262/1264 (10)
Matrix: XAX 456/456 (I) (1-3), XAX 1205/06 (4-9), XAX 596/601 (10)
0190295019921 · A Warner Classics Release ℗ 1954/Remastered ℗ 2014 (1-3), ℗ 1955/Remastered 1999 (10), ℗ 1958/Remastered ℗ 2014 (4-9) Parlophone Records Limited
CD 8 [77.47]
George Friederic HANDEL (1685-1759)
Trio Overture for two clarinets and horn in C major, HWV424 (ed. Karl Haas)
1. I. Moderato [1:04]
2. II. Allegro Ma Non Troppo [1:38]
3. III. Larghetto [2:45]
4. IV. Andante [1:11]
5. V. Allegro [1.00]
6. Aria for wind instruments in F major, HWV410 [4:21]
7. Aria for wind instruments in F major, HWV411 [1:23]
Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809)
Divertimento in C major ‘Feldparthie’ (1765)
8. I. Allegro [1:36]
9. II. Minuet [2:12]
10. III. Adagio [3:27]
11. IV. Minuet [1:39]
12. V. Presto [1:18]
Notturno in C major, Hob.II:32
13. I. Allegro Moderato [7:32]
14. II. Andante Cantabile [2:42]
15. III. Molto Vivace [2:06]
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Serenade in E-flat major, K375
16. I. Allegro Maestoso [7:24]
17. II. Menuetto I [3:50]
18. III. Adagio [5:39]
19. IV. Menuetto II [2:54]
20. V. Allegro [3:21]
Serenade in C minor, K388/K384a
21. I. Allegro [4:42]
22. II. Andante [3:36]
23. III. Menuetto (In Canone) [4:11]
24. IV. Allegro [6:05]
Dennis Brain (horn)
Michael Dobson (6-7), Edward Selwyn (6-7), Stanley Smith (6-7), Natalie James (6-7, 16-24), Sidney Sutcliffe (13-24)
(oboes); Gervase De Peyer (1-5), Frederick Thurston (1-5) Jack Brymer (16-24), Basil Tchaikov (16-24)
(clarinets); Cecil James (6-7, 13-24), Edward Wilson (6-7, 13-24) (bassoons); Alfred Cursue (6-7), Neill Sanders (13-24)
(horns)
The London Baroque Ensemble / Karl Haas (8-24)
Recorded: 3-4.I. (16-20), 23.VI. (21-24), 15.VII.1952 (15-21), 24.IX.1953 (8-15), No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London · MONO
Producers: Sir George Martin · Balance Engineers: Arthur Clarke (1-5), Douglas Larter (6-7, 21-24), Christopher Parker (8-15), Robert Beckett (16-20)
First Release on: Parlophone R 20581 (1-5), Parlophone R 20617 (6-7), Parlophone PMA 1013 (8-20), Parlophone R 20610/20612 (21-24)
Matrix: CXE 12797/12798 (1-5), CXE 14182 (6-7), XEX 95 (8-15), CXE 14108/14113 (16-20), CXE 13787/13790 & 13783/13794 (21-24)
0190295019921 · A Warner Classics Release ℗ 1950/Remastered ℗ 2021 (1-5), ℗ 1952/Remastered ℗ 2021 (6-7), ℗ 1954/Remastered ℗ 1999 (8-15), ℗ 1954 /Remastered ℗ 2000 (16-24) Parlophone Records Limited
CD 9 [79.08]
Carl Philipp Emanuel BACH (1714-1788)
Six Sonatinas for Wind Instruments, Wq 184
1. Sonatina No 4 in E-flat major (Allegro Ma Non Troppo) [2:31]
2. Sonatina No 3 In G major (Allegro) [1:59]
3. Sonatina No 6 In C major (Allegretto Grazioso) [2:12]
4. Sonatina No 2 In F major (Andante) [3:40]
5. Sonatina No 1 In D major (Allegretto) [4:07]
6. Sonatina No 5 In A major (Allegro Assai) [1:07]
Karl Ditters Von DITTERSDORF (1739-1799)
Partita in D major (ed. Karl Haas)
7. I. Allegro Moderato [2:47]
8. II. Minuet & Trio [2:45]
9. III. Adagio [2:28]
10. IV. Minuet & Trio [2:39]
11. V. Finale (Rondo) [1:02]
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Serenade in E-flat major, K375
12. I. Allegro Maestoso [7:43]
13. II. Minuet I & Trio [4:17]
14. III. Adagio [6:05]
15. IV. Minuet II & Trio [3:07]
16. V. Allegro [3:33]
17. Minuet II & Two Trios (Sextet Version) [5:02]
Serenade No 12 in C minor, K388/K384a
18. I. Allegro [7:00]
19. II. Andante [3:54]
20. III. Minuetto (In Canone) [4:37]
21. IV. Allegro [6:27]
Dennis Brain (horn)
Richard Adeney (1-6), Gareth Morris (1-6) (flutes); Natalie James (7-21), Sidney Sutcliffe (7-11, 18-21)
(oboes); Bernard Walton (1-6, 12-17), Gervase De Peyer (1-6), Jack Brymer (12-21), Michael Dobson (12-17), Stephen Waters (12-21)
(clarinets); Cecil James (1-21), Val Kennedy (12-17), Edward Wilson (18-21)
(bassoons); Neill Sanders (1-21) (horn)
London Baroque Ensemble / Karl Haas
Recorded: 18.VI.1953 (1-6), 20.VI.1953 (7-11), No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London; 13 (18-21), 16 (12-17) V.1957, St. Gabriel's Church, Cricklewood, London · MONO (1-11), STEREO (12-21)
Producers: Sir George Martin (7-11), John Snashall (12-21) · Balance Engineers: Christopher Parker (7-11), John Moseley (12-21)
First Release On: PYE GSGC 14062 (12-21), Parlophone PMB 1004 (1-6), Parlophone PMB 1008 (7-11)
Matrix: GSGC 14062 A/B (12-21), XE 100 (1-6), XE 103 (7-11)
0190295019921 · A Warner Classics Release ℗ 1953/Remastered ℗ 1999 (1-11), ℗ 1958/Remastered ℗ 1991 (12-21) Parlophone Records Limited
CD 10 [79.43]
Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904)
Serenade in D minor, Op 44
1. I. Moderato Quasi Marcia [3:51]
2. II. Tempo Di Minuetto [6:09]
3. III. Andante Con Moto [8:24]
4. IV. Allegro Molto [5:45]
Charles GOUNOD (1818-1893)
Petite Symphonie for Wind Instruments in B-flat major
5. I. Adagio – Allegretto [5:19]
6. II. Andante Cantabile – Andante [4:36]
7. III. Scherzo: Allegro Moderato [4:05]
8. IV. Finale: Allegretto [3:16]
Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Sonatina No 2 in E-flat major 'Fröhliche Werkstatt', TrV 291 (1944-45)
(Symphony for Wind Instruments for 16 wind instruments, 'Fröhliche Werkstatt'
9. I. Allegro Con Brio [12:07]
10. II. Andantino [6:05]
11. III. Minuet [4:11]
12. IV. Andante – Allegro [15:50]
Members of The London Baroque Ensemble / Karl Haas
Recorded: 6-7.XII.1951 (1-4), 30.I.1953 (9-12), 24.XI.1953 (5-8), No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London · MONO
Producer: Sir George Martin (1-4, 9-12), Unknown (5-8) · Balance Engineer: Robert Beckett (1-4), Douglas Larter (9-12), Unknown (5-8)
First Release As: Parlophone R 20804/06 (1-4), HMV XLP 30011 (5-8), Parlophone PMA 1006 (9-12)
Matrix: CXE 13730/35 (1-4), 2XEA 2282 (5-8), XEX 55/56 (9-12)
0190295019921 · A Warner Classics Release ℗ 1952/Remastered ℗ 1999 (1-4), ℗1953/Remastered ℗ 1999 (9-12), ℗ 1963/Remastered ℗ 1999 (5-8) Parlophone Records Limited
CD 11 [63.48]
Ludwig Van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
11 Mödlinger Tänze, WoO17
1. No 2 Minuet in B-flat major [2:34]
2. No 1 Waltz in E-flat major [1:45]
3. No 3 Waltz in E-flat major [1:19]
4. No 10 Waltz in D major [1:07]
5. No 11 Waltz in D major [1:11]
Vincent d'INDY (1851-1931)
Chanson Et Danses, Op 50
6. Chanson [5:33]
7. Danses [8:43]
Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Suite for 13 Winds, Op 4
8. I. Praeludium [5:53]
9. II. Romanze [5:39]
10. III. Gavotte [4:25]
11. IV. Introduction und Fuge [6:46]
Richard ARNELL (1917-2009)
Serenade for 10 Winds and Double-Bass, Op 57
12. I. Prelude (Andante Con Moto) [3:35]
13. II. Scherzo (Allegro Vivace) [1:10]
14. III. Canzone (Larghetto) [2:57]
15. IV. Ballet (Allegro) [3:27]
Norman Forber KAY (1929-2001)
Miniature Quartet for Winds
16. I. Moderato E Marcato [2:12]
17. II. Lento [3:03]
18. III. Fughetta (Moderato ritmico e distino) [2:14]
Dennis Brain (horn)
Gareth Morris (6-7), Richard Adeney (16-18) (flutes); Sidney Sutcliffe (6-7)
(oboe); Bernard Walton (6-7), Gervase De Peyer (6-7), Stephen Waters (16-18)
(clarinets); Cecil James (16-18) (bassoon)
London Baroque Ensemble / Karl Haas Conductor
World Premiere Release (6-7)
Recorded: 27.XI.1953 (6-7) No. 1 Studio, Abbey Road, London; 17 (1-5, 12-15), 18 (8-11, 16-18) V.1957, St. Gabriel's Church, Cricklewood, London · MONO (1-5)/STEREO (6-18)
